What to wear for New Years Eve…take a quick trip to Ulta and spend those gift cards that Santa gave you on some IT Cosmetics and you’ll have all the cosmetics you’ll need for superhero-worthy beauty that lasts all night. Of course, you’ll want to pick up my ultimate favorite concealer – I can’t believe it has even surpassed my precious favorite, Bye Bye Undereye (which is still freaking fantastic). I think I love this one even better now that I’m older and my skin is a little dryer, the Bye Bye Undereye Concealing Pot is slightly creamier and man is it good.

For cheeks, I adore the Bye Bye Pores Blush in Sweet Cheeks, which makes pores disappear. Some blushes seem to settle right into pores and make them look like huge craters – ugh, you know what I mean. This pressed powder does the opposite, leaving skin looking practically poreless thanks to Optical Blurring Technology and anti-aging silk, hydrolyzed collagen, antioxidants and peptides. Sweet Cheeks is such pretty peachy/gold/pink.

Now, let’s talk EYES. No one does eyes like IT Cosmetics! Their Superhero Palette is, in my humble opinion, outstanding. It’s divided into three sections – one section with very subtle, nude shades, one with what they call neutral shades but they do have more oomph, and one that has lots of drama and can be used as liners. All sections have a lovely buttery texture with lots of pigment and fantastic lasting power. Marcia did an excellent review of the shades HERE which I won’t repeat, but here are some pics for you:

Nudes Eye Base

Nudes Eyeshadows

Nudes swatched

The Nudes shades are indeed subtle, and give a very natural but finished look. You can wear them by themselves or else combine them with other colors in the palette.

IT Cosmetics Eye Foundation Neutral

Neutral Eyeshadows

Neutral Eyeshadow swatches

The Neutrals are beautiful shades are a little more than neutral, really – I think they pack a punch. I love them – particularly the golden shade that plays well with my hazel eyes. Beautiful!

IT Cosmetics Liners Eye Foundation

Liners

Liner swatches

The Liners shades are beautiful. You can use them wet or dry. They are fantastic accents for the crease as well.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush

The perfect brush, by the way, for this amazing palette is the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush ($29). This is an amazing brush totally worthy of its name!! Goodness knows I love a multi-tasker, and this takes multi-tasking to a new extreme.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush Liner side

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush All Over Brush

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush Crease brush

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Superhero Brush Smudger brush

One side is the liner brush, and the other side slides to become three different brushes – an all-over shadow brush, a crease brush, and a smudge brush. This is the perfect travel brush.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Liner

IT Cosmetics Superhero Eyeliner swatch

Of course, you also need a superhero worthy eyeliner and IT Cosmetics has that too – the Superhero Liner ($24). This is one of the easiest liquid eyeliners I have ever used. It goes on with the ease of a marker but it still has the power of a liquid liner. It also really lasts without peeling or chipping. The brush is like a felt tip brush and it keeps its quality without fraying or bending.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara wand

Superhero Mascara ($24) finishes out your look with super thick, super long, super black lashes. I love this mascara. It has something called Proprietary Elastic Stretch Technology that I can’t even pretend to understand, but somehow it wraps each lash in a ‘black cape of power and color’ which sounds pretty darn cool. Whatever it does, it makes my lashes look fantastic, which is good enough for me!!

Valencia Key Shero Earrings

Now that your face looks AH-MAZING, why not accent it with this fabulous Valencia Keyearrings? Valencia Key Earrings are for Dreamers, Believers, and Achievers. Check them out at valenciakey.com. Not only are these earring gorgeous, they come with this message:

Valencia Key Shero Earrings

You are courageous! You are inspiring! You are extraordinary! On your journey to achieve your dreams and live your life’s purpose, wear these beautiful VALENCIA KEY Shero Earrings, infused with sunshine, joy and love. Shine bright in life! Sending you lots of love and light!

Red, brown, black, blue…none of those shades have any business being on my face. So I spend a lot of time covering them up – and I am always looking for something amazing to help me do so. I remember discovering the pro FACE atelier line after Madonna chose it for her 2010 tour – I was obsessed with their Lip Glaze, especially the ICE shade (still a favorite after all these years, by the way!). FACE atelier has amazing products and the Ultra Camouflage Duet ($35) is one of the best in the line. So – if you also don’t think red, brown, black, or blue spots don’t belong on your face, then read on!

The FACE atelier Ultra Camouflage Duet is a silicone-based concealer that gets rid of every sort of discoloration – dark undereye circles, blue veins, red spots, hyperpigmentation, brown spots, you name it. There are two shades – one cool and one warm – that work together to cover anything that you just don’t want showing. The coverage is buildable, the texture is smooth, and the formula is long-wearing. Key ingredients include:

Petrolatum – Petrolatum is considered to be among the most effective moisturizing ingredients available and is also known for its effectiveness in healing wounds. It can help the skin’s outer layer recover from damage, reduce inflammation, and generally heal the skin. Cosmetics-grade petrolatum is considered the safest, most non-irritating moisturizing ingredients ever found.

Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol – a member of the silicone family that imparts emolliency, and significantly enhances a product’s lifespan and effectiveness. They create a soft, smooth product that is pleasant to apply and imparts a unique skin feel. It is naturally water-resistant while absorbing sebum (the oily substance produced by certain glands in the skin), reducing skin shine. Silicone molecules are larger than human pores, preventing them from settling into them upon application, and the unique molecular structure of silicones (larger molecules with wider spaces between each molecule) allow them to form a breathable barrier.

FACE atelier Ultra Camouflage Duet

A big tip – you want to pat this on, don’t swipe. And – gulp – use your fingers. Body heat seems to really make this concealer perform at its highest potential, truly melding properly with the skin at a level just a tad higher than it does when using a brush. Now, I know that sticking fingers into creamy makeup products isn’t the best idea, but all you need to do is spritz the compact with BeautySoClean Cosmetics Sanitizer Mist after using it and you are good to go, all sanitized and all good with the cleanliness gods.

FACE atelier Ultra Camouflage Duet swatched

The pigmentation is fabulous so it covers just about everything. I typically use the lighter shade first, patting it on with my finger, then the darker shade over that. It easily covers blue and red colors. Even though it’s a creamy consistency, I do not find that it sinks into fine lines. I do set it with powder although some may love the satin finish and want to simply keep it like that.

My compact shade is #1 Light, and it also comes in Medium, Dark, and Darker shades. Another intriguing shade is Erase, which I am dying to try – check this out:

It’s supposed to be really incredible at eliminating dark undereye circles and blueness. I can’t wait to try it!

It doesn’t seem to matter how old I get. Wrinkles? Check. Oily skin? Check. Blemishes? Check. Yes, someone up there has one heck of a sense of humor. I thought by this age I would at least be done with the zits. But nooooo. My blogging partner Marcia was blessed with much nicer skin than I have, so she happily gave me the Bye Bye Breakout products to test – the Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer and the Bye Bye Breakout Powder.

The Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer ($28) is a creamy concealer in a jar with a doe foot applicator. This isn’t a concealer for dark undereye circles, although I will make a major confession – I am forever running late so I have been known to use this to conceal whatever needs covering up at the moment. It certainly does conceal, but it’s more of a medium concealer, not full coverage.

It also doesn’t make those blemishes super dry and cracked, which is what I was a little afraid of – ever try drying lotion? I was wary, thinking it might be similar and I thought how in the world could I go through the day with something like that on my skin for everyone to see?? But it’s nothing like that. Ingredients include anti-aging peptides and hydrolyzed collagen, plus oil-absorbing zinc oxide, kaolin clay, witch hazel, tea tree, sulfur and a gentle AHA/BHA complex.

My breakouts are typically localized – I will get one or two on my chin or by my nose. The loose powder is meant to go over the concealer to really finish it and give an airbrushed look, as well as provide more treatment for the inflamed area. Hence, the price – $28 is rather expensive for a loose powder, especially for one that is relatively small when you compare it to the jars offered by other lines, which are about twice the size. But the ones from other lines are basically cornstarch and filler, not treatment, which is why they are cheaper and you get lots more. Now, if you are very blemish prone you can certainly use this as a full face finishing powder and it will do a beautiful job. Just know that since it’s also a treatment product, it’s going to be a bit more expensive for you.

The shades available are Translucent, Light/Medium, and Tan/Rich. I had to swatch them quite heavily because the shades are actually quite forgiving. Basically, Translucent will work for anyone up to slightly darker than medium skin. If you have medium skin you will probably want the medium shade, and anyone darker than medium should go with the Tan/Rich shade.

By now you know that I am completely obsessed with Decorte Cosmetics. This is a fabulous Japanese line that is available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue. The color cosmetics are incredible. I’ve previously written about their lip palettes – The New Nudes and The New Reds, both gorgeous lippie collections that have totally converted me into a lip palette lover. I’ve also written about the Priming Essence, which is a beautiful opalescent primer that I am now using sparingly because I am dreading running out of it. My other favorite is the Soft Creme Foundation, a fantastic foundation that will forever be in my top five foundations of all time.

Decorte The New Reds Lip Palette

Decorte The New Nudes Lip Palette

Decorte Priming Essence

DECORTE Cosmetics Soft Creme Foundation in Cool Ivory

Today I have one more fab foundation find from Decorte, as well as a truly impressive concealer! This line just gets better and better.

Decorte Creme Concealer

I have the Creme Concealer ($60) in Light, and it also comes in Light Medium and Medium. Saks says, “It’s a paradox: Hyper-color and condition in one. Double-pigment technology provides extreme tonal color while helping soften delicate skin with botanicals for a most comfortable, just-matte finish. Long-wearing. Non-drying.”

Decorte Creme Concealer in Light

Decorte Creme Concealer in Light

Decorte Creme Concealer in Light

This stick foundation reminds me of the stick Cle de Peau concealer, although it isn’t as thick and it blends so much better. It provides the same sort of coverage, though. Dark undereye circles are gone, gone, gone and the concealer lasts all day long. I have a big problem with deep blue under my eyes so I need coverage, and the Creme Concealerreally takes care of everything. Color me impressed!

Decorte Powder Foundation Compact

The Decorte Powder Foundation Compact ($95) is so lovely I can’t even sit still as I write this. Oh is this good!!! Saks says, “Experience the unexpected. Velvety to the touch, this compact foundation combines a soft-crystal texture with a cascade of hydrating and conditioning benefits. Uber-antioxidant Shirakaba Tonic infuses skin with calm and renewal. Washi Paper Optics create a low-definition look for a luxe new luminosity. Layers weightlessly for individual, medium coverage. Long-wearing.”

Decorte Powder Foundation Compact

Decorte Powder Foundation Compact 351 Cool Ivory

Decorte Powder Foundation Compact 351 Cool Ivory

Decorte Powder Foundation Compact 351 Cool Ivory

The Powder Foundation Compact comes in a sleek black case with the square of powder foundation on one side and an application sponge on the other. The application sponge is quite nice, and works well for initial application and for touch ups. The foundation is just lovely. It gives great coverage so easily and effortlessly – it just glides right on without any need for blending or buffing. The finish is soft and natural and not powdery at all. I am so in love with this!

My shade is 351 Cool Ivory. There is a great array of shades, 12 in all, although I must say the shades seem pretty off on my computer monitor. I deduced my foundation shade, but if you aren’t sure you can always head on over to Saks and check this out in person. Believe me, it is WORTH IT. If you haven’t tried Decorte yet, please do yourself a favor and check it out!! I haven’t been so impressed with a line in a very long time. You will have a ball and I know you’ll find lots of things you’ll never want to live without. – Lisa

Memorial Day weekend is wonderful for many reasons – we have that extra day to remember our loved ones who aren’t physically with us anymore. We have a little more time to spend with the people we love who are still here, and we have some precious time to relax and rest. If you are lucky, you get to spend that time at the pool or the beach.

Aaahhhh….rest and relaxation!!

I’m heading to the pool! I have a few must-have’s that are absolutely essential for my Memorial Day pool getaway…I wonder how they compare to your list?

First, a great beach bag is essential. I was sent the ultimate beach bag from IT Cosmetics – it’s big, it has a waterproof and sand-proof bottom, and it has a zippered top. It really is perfection. They also sent a wonderful round towel. Love it!!

For real – they are the COOLEST. No exaggeration. I also always have my phone with me. I love my Samsung Galaxy, although I have the S6 and I think it’s time for an upgrade, don’t you? Come on, enable me!!

Shoshanna Bikini

It can’t be called a pool party without the perfect bikini. I favor Shoshanna bikinis. They are bra sized and I always love the sweet, feminine prints. You can find her swimwear at Shopbop at incredible prices.

Eliza Flat Halogen Sandals

Of course, the perfect sandals are necessary. I got these Eliza Flat Halogen Sandals through Trunk Club. Have you heard of Trunk Club yet?? It’s a personal shopping service that is run through Nordstrom. You get a personal shopper who works with you. He or she picks out TEN pieces that you actually get to preview and approve online before they are sent to you in a big old trunk. Then you get five days to try on everything and decide if you want to keep anything. My personal shopper is incredible. Her name is Paulina and I swear, she is psychic. She knows what I want even when I have no idea. The only drawback is I have spent so much money that if my hubby knew he would probably leave me. But my wardrobe is rocking. If you try this service, go with Paulina – use this link and it will give me a credit, for which I will be forever thankful!

BKR Glass and Silicone Water Bottle

Another Memorial Day pool party essential is a water bottle. I am still raving about my BKR Glass and Silicone Water Bottle that came with my Zoe Report Box of Style Spring 2017. The newest Box of Style is out now…I am hoping it arrives soon.

IT Cosmetics recently sent me some fantastic travel size products that are really terrific for taking to the pool and the beach. Pop these into your beach bag along with a little travel mirror and you will have everything you need for looking great and feeling wonderful.

IT Cosmetics…travel sized and beach party ready!

Confidence in a Cream Travel Size ($16) Skin gets dry thanks to sun, wind, and chlorine, so a little bit of moisture every so often is the perfect answer. I adore IT Confidence in a Creambecause it moisturizes thirsty skin, giving it a nice glow; it tackles skin texture and leaves it feeling smooth; it evens out skin tone; and it reduces the look of pores. Plus the travel size jar is perfect for a beach bag or a purse.

Confidence in a Cream Travel Size

CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ Travel Size($15) Spending the day outside, a full coverage foundation doesn’t sound right…but neither does going bare-faced. I love the travel size version ofIT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ which has more coverage than a BB cream, but is still lighter than a foundation. It doesn’t get any better than this anti-aging serum and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 50+ protection all in one fabulous package.

CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ Travel Size

Bye Bye Under Eye Full-Coverage Waterproof Concealer Travel Size ($10) Ok, somehow my computer ate my photo of Bye Bye Under Eye Full-Coverage Concealer…but your skin won’t do the same, because this concealer lasts and lasts, even if you are swimming in a chlorine-filled pool. For those of you with decent skin, you probably just need a few little dots blended in under your eyes and maybe under your nose for fabulous coverage that looks natural and stays all day. This is my go-to concealer and has been for years and years.

IT Cosmetics travel size Bye Bye Undereye

Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil Mini($12) When my secretary when to Mexico for vacation, she asked me which brow pencil to get so she could comfortably lay by the pool knowing she had eyebrows safely in place. Without hesitation I recommended the Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil Mini, which I knew would work for her – and she is a strawberry redhead. It works for pretty much everyone and the spoolie and formula makes sure those brows are well-groomed and stay in place!

Brow Powder Universal Brow Pencil Mini

Brow Powder Universal Brow Pencil Mini

Brow Powder Universal Brow Pencil Mini

IT’s Your Brush Love Mini ($12) The perfect mini-solution for quick cleaning lip brushes, eyeshadow brushes, powder brushes…I even use it to touch up overzealous lipstick or eyeliner application. It works like a dream and the size is truly perfect.

IT’s Your Brush Love Mini

With the perfect towel, bikini, sunglasses, hat, sandals, and cosmetics tucked into a fabulous beach bag I am totally ready for my pool party this weekend. Oh wait, I forgot my phone…that’s ok, I need to upgrade anyway!!! Come on ladies, tell me…what did I leave off my list that YOU consider to be an essential for a perfect day at the pool or beach? – Lisa

Now here is a collection that has it all – the IT Cosmetics™ IT’s Your Bye Bye Breakthroughs! 5-Piece Collection ($79.98). This is on QVC on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 1 pm, 4 pm (2-hour show) and 8 pm (2-hour show) ET – be sure to tune in for more details about this fabulous collection of goodies. In the meantime, here’s some great info for your reading pleasure.

This is a stunningly beautiful pressed powder that gives a fantastic glow to your complexion. If you are tired, sick, or just feeling a little flat, a quick sweep of this soft powder and skin looks young and fresh. I love it!

Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™

Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ in Medium

2. New Shades! Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Available in 2 new shades (6 shades total!), Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ brightens the look of your entire eye area and delivers highly pigmented, anti-aging full coverage that never creases or cracks!

I am a long-time fan of the original Bye Bye Under Eye™, and this new version is the classic formula along with IT Cosmetic’sDrops of Light Technology™. It combines everything I love about the classic concealer – long wear, full coverage, skin-loving ingredients – along with a luminescence that helps it conceal blue and red areas to perfection. I have the Medium shade swatched above. I used the tiniest bit of concealer – just a dot goes an incredibly long way. I find the best way to use this is to spread the concealer on the back of my hand as my body temperature helps to warm up the concealer so it spreads easily. Then I dot it on under my eyes and around my nose, continuing to gently pat to blend it in.

The Bye Bye Lines Serumis so great that Marcia already used up her first bottle and has made her way almost completely through her second. This is true love! It’s so hydrating and contains all the ingredients to make the most of skin. “While deeply hydrating hyaluronic acid, argan oil and babassu oil restore moisture and aid skin barrier repair, vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B7, B9 and CoQ10 work synergistically with skin-brightening licorice root to restore the look of youthful vitality and radiance for your most beautiful complexion!”

Bye Bye Makeup™is a unique take on a cleanser. It’s not a cream, it’s a solid that melts immediately with body temperature, and it’s applied to dry skin like cleansing oil. I was initially very conservative with it, just sliding my fingers across the top and then smoothing it on, but I finally realized that it was ok to ‘dig in’ and get a chunk. The cleanser has a nice, light citrus scent that is very pleasant and doesn’t hang around long. It takes off all makeup, including eye makeup, without the need for a separate makeup remover. Second, it is one heck of a moisturizer, leaving skin not only cleansed but also crazy soft and hydrated. It’s also an anti-aging skin serum. Normally, I think that any sort of treatment is wasted in a cleanser – after all, it’s getting washed off and going down the sink, right? But this one is activated as soon as it touches your skin, and it actually creates a sort of barrier keeping moisture in while also giving skin a glowy radiance. I have nothing but raves for this excellent paraben- and sulfate-free cleanser.

The is one heck of a brush. It’s soft and feels terrific, but it has enough heft to pick up product and distribute and buff in beautifully. IT really does brushes right, and this one is no exception. I love it with the Illumination Powder.

The IT Cosmetics™ IT’s Your Bye Bye Breakthroughs! 5-Piece Collection TSV is a fantastic set – you’ve got a gorgeous highlighting powder and the perfect brush to partner with it; beautiful illuminating concealer that comes in two new shades; a serum so good that my picky partner Marcia swears by it; and a 3-in-1 makeup remover that also acts as a moisturizer and a skin treatment. All this for about $80!!! It’s a steal. Order one for yourself today – and get one for your mom, too. – Lisa

The Beauty Info Zone team had fallen madly in love with Mally Beauty Dark Circle Corrector. We gushed about it and were thrilled to own it. Then when we went to purchase it again, it was gone!! Disappointment doesn’t even cover how we felt. But Mally Beauty is back to the rescue with their H3 CONCEALER so they’ve made it up to us. And to their customers. When we were sent this new concealer we were eager to see if it lived up to our old favorite.

Mally H3 Concealer is available in 5 shades (Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, and Rich). Available at Ulta and QVC (limited shades) it’s considered to be a hydrating and brightening concealer. Let’s see how this stacks up in our book.

MARCIA HAS H3 CONCEALER IN FAIR

Mally H3 Concealer in Fair

Mally has redeemed herself. I was really missing the Dark Circle Corrector in Lighter and savoring what little I had left. When I received this new creamy concealer I wasn’t sure if it could the original off its pedestal but it stands right up there with it.

Mally H3 Concealer in Fair

In the tube the concealer appears very light and a good match for my fair cool toned skin. If you are uber pale this might not be quite light enough for you but for most of the fair maidens in the land this will work.

Mally H3 Concealer in Fair

When first applied it has a yellow cast but have no fear since it blends so seamlessly into skin that the yellow just tends to brighten your undereye area. I’m currently applying it with the wand, smoothing it in with a Beauty Junkees mini kabuki brush, and then melding it onto my skin with the warmth of my finger.

Mally H3 Concealer in Fair

Besides my undereye area I often have to conceal around my nose and that area worries me since product can disappear into my pores there. I use just the lightest touch of H3 Concealer with my finger and it looks natural, removing the redness that can appear.

Overall I think that Mally saved the day. When looking up where to purchase this I found a great deal on QVC which I’ll be taking advantage of – Mally Correct, Conceal & Brighten 3 piece collection. The collection contains this H3 Concealer, Dark Circle Corrector, and Perfect Prep Neutralizing Primer. Now I can safely finish the remains of my Dark Circle Corrector and have a new one and a backup of this great concealer.

LISAHAS H3 CONCEALER IN MEDIUM

Mally H3 Concealer in Medium

I think I actually cried when Marcia told me my favorite Dark Circle Corrector was no longer available!! I have extremely dark undereye circles and it takes industrial strength concealer to mask them…or something with a miracle inside, like the Dark Circle Corrector, which did so without looking heavy or cakey. So I was hoping for something similar but certainly doubted I would be finding the exact same rainbow inside this tube.

Mally H3 Concealer in Medium

In the tube the concealer appears pretty yellow…I thought it would be too warm for my neutral skin. However, it’s actually quite forgiving and will work for most medium skin tones.

Mally H3 Concealer in Medium

I dot this on from the bottom of my nose to the outside of each eye, then underneath my nose where I tend to have red capillaries. Then I use my beloved Artis Oval 6 Brush to smooth the concealer out and it blends in perfectly, making dark circles disappear and causing eye bags to go packing. As Marcia mentioned, the yellow tint works to brighten the undereye area which is always a plus.